Revelations made about ex-PM Nawaz Sharif’s confrontation with then CJP

ISLAMABAD: A former high-level government personality has recently made revelations about ex-premier Nawaz Sharif’s confrontation with the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) during his second tenure, ARY News reported on Monday.

While talking to ARY News, a former senior officer made revelations about ex-PM Nawaz Sharif’s face-off with the then CJP Sajjad Ali Shah. The former government officer was a member of ex-PM Sharif’s legal team from 1997 to 1998.

The officer told ARY News that the same situation of tensions between the government and the judiciary was witnessed in 1997.

It was told that Nawaz Sharif’s ties with Justice Sajjad Ali Shah were worsened on the issue of the irrigation department. During his visit, Sharif had suspended four employees of the irrigation department but Justice Shah took a suo motu notice and stopped the then premier from interfering in provincial affairs and restored the workers.

READ: NAWAZ SHARIF CRITICISES EX-CJP SAQIB NISAR, SC JUDGES

Moreover, ex-PM Sharif sent then deputy attorney general instead of attorney general to the hearing of the irrigation department workers case. Later, the Supreme Court (SC) had imposed a stay order on some recoveries of the Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA) which enraged ex-PM Sharif.

The ties between the ex-premier and ex-CJP were worsened on another issue of special anti-terrorism courts. Sharif’s father had organised a meeting between Justice Sajjad and PM Sharif to resolve the issues. However, Sharif started insisting on the special ATCs two days after the meeting and ordered advocate general Punjab Khawaja Sharif to send a list of the judges.

On the issue of special ATCs, the Sharif government brought a resolution to the parliament against then chief justice. The former government officer said that he was ordered to prepare the draft of the resolution which will be presented by Chaudhry Nisar before the parliament. However, Shehbaz Sharif came in to calm down the situation.

READ: PM SHEHBAZ CONTACTS NAWAZ SHARIF AFTER ALVI STRESSED FOR ‘TIMELY POLLS’

The ex-officer told ARY News that the government was then decided to not bring a resolution against then CJP. Later, the Sharif government had sent a former judge and a senior lawyer to the Quetta bench which suspended the appointment of the CJP Shah. However, Justice Shah set aside the Quetta bench’s order and later Justice Saeeduz Zaman suspended CJP’s order.

Later, then Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Abid Hassan Manto played his role to calm down the situation. Nawaz Sharif had later asked to appoint Justice Ajmal Mian as the acting CJP.

The ex-government officer also said that then president Farooq Leghari did not immediately sign the summary for the appointment the new chief justice. Nawaz Sharif had held a two-hour meeting with General Jahangir Karamat after having differences with then President Leghari. The former premier then confidently said that ‘they are with us’.

The former legal team member said that he was sent to President Leghari with ‘an important message’ that he should sign the summary or submit his resignation. He added that the president then tendered his resignation.